Dear fellow stroke survivors and dear carers, I would like to start with a little project - create a playlist of songs/music; the ones that inspire and create positive emotions. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. What inspires you, makes you happy, puts a smile on your face...
Hi Michael,
I love any opportunity to talk about the wonderful healing which music can bring and will have a dance around the house to come up with my Top 10 songs. I especially love hearing all generations list the music which rings true for them because music no matter what age we are music brings us together.
A great project!
Sue
Thanks Sue!
Hi Michael. As someone who always loved music and singing having my ability to enjoy music alterede by my stroke has been one of those things that I am slowly getting used to. In the past I listened to musci from a wide range of genres but especially loved musicals and operas. I will still put this music on but after 2 or 3 songs I need total silence to recover, though I am happy to say I did get to lesten to 6 tracks of Brynn Terfel before I had to turn him off :)
One of my go to artists at the moment is The Paper Kites, a folkish sounding band from Melbourne. Pre stroke one of my daughters intodruced me to a singer who went by the name A Fine Frenzy. Happily I can still listen to her. One of her songs, 'The Minnow & the Trout', lyrics really resonate with me now (https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/finefrenzy/theminnowthetrout.html)
Another group I can still enjoy is Pink Martini and they always bring a smile to my face.
I always enjoyed lsitening to mucis sung in different languages and I now find as long as the music is 'mellowish' this is what I can listen to the longest. I think it's because when songs are sung in English my brain is trying to understand what is being sung where as when it's a different language my brain accepts it can;t undersatnd the lyrics and so it is one less thing for it to do.
Toni
Hey All,
Great project.
I want to offer a tip to make this thread super fantastic!
Do you know that you can pull a video from youtube or vimeo into your comment by clicking on the insert video button that is on the little menu at the top of your comment box?
Here is my addition - I saw Priscilla on Saturday night and 'I Will Survive' by Gloria Gaynor is in my head.
Diana
Okay so I have my playlist and "I will survive" is in my top 10 Di, so thank you for popping that one in.
How was Priscilla, was it a live show or did you see the movie? Such a classic movie with a great sound track to it!
My Top 10 go to dance, feel good, sing along to songs are.
1. I will Survive - Gloria Gaynor. 1978
2. Things Can Only Get Better - Dream - 1993
3. Stronger - Kelly Clarkson 2011
4.Shake it off - Taylor Swift 2011
5. Breakaway - Big Pig 1989 (the build and beat in this song is unreal)
6.I'm on top of the world - Imagine Dragons 2012
7. Unwell - Matchbox 2003 (A good song for me when I was feeling unwell and alone)
8. April Sun In Cuba - Dragon 1977 (I'm a huge Dragon Fan!!)
9. Let's Go Crazy - Prince 1984 (Dearly Beloved, we are gathered together today to get through this thing call LIFE.) Yep true words Prince!!
Now bearing in mind I worked for ten years at a Youth and Family Service - My time spent there was not without a good dose of Rap music. So while my number ten song may seem a little out of character I do love the beat and expression of this song. After a big day at work I would often come home, put this song on turn it up and bop around the house. Much to the amusement of our kids!
10. King Kunta - Kendrick Lamal 2015
I have included the link to Stronger - by Kelly Clarkson. I have tried to put the video in this text box but I am not able to get it to work, I must be doing something wrong Di?? Help ???
https://youtu.be/Xn676-fLq7I .
I can't wait to hear from other people what they like. I will have a look at your songs Toni.
Di, anyone around the office wanting to put in their list?
The more the merrier!
Sue
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Hi Sue,
I saw the stage show, if you ever get the chance to see it, take it with both hands! It was amazing.
Here is your video (give me a call and I will take you through it. It should just be a matter of pasting the link in.
Sue, I love your Number 9, in fact the whole Purple Rain album is great. I am unable to find a video for The Minnow & the Trout but you can listen to it through this youtube link or if you search on youtube there are live versions of the song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2_3feh6O4A
Hi Di, I thought I'd grabbed the video not just the link...oops :)
Thank you all for taking part - I'm enjoying it already - finding out what people like. I have a few favourites:
1) Enrique Iglesias - Bailando (Spanish version)
2) Pippo Pollina - Questo Amore
3) Patricia Kaas - Une fille de L'est
4) Nena - In meinem Leben (In my Life - there is an English translation)
5) Desireless - Voyage, Voyage
6) Yazoo - Only You
7) Visage - Fade to Grey
8) Haddaway - What is Love
9) MJ - They don't care about us
10) ABC - The Look of Love
11) Madonna & Gogol Bordello - La Isla Bonita (Live from Live Earth)
12) War/No more trouble - Playing for Change with Bono
Enjoy!
Hi all, for those who like instrumental music (guitar): Milos Karadaglic - a talented young guitar player (originally from Podgorica - Montenegro; my place of birth).
Enjoy!
One more I forgot: Seal, Delta, Joel and Ricky - Diamonds (The Voice Australia 2013). Also Guy Sebastian - Battle Scars and his song he performed at Eurovision - what an Australian talent!
And if none of the above gets you 'up and moving' try the late Michael Jackson - They Don't Care About Us (Brazil Version)!
Do you think we stroke survivors could pull off a performance like that?
Hi Toni, given your comments, have you ever heard about the French musical 'Notre Dame de Paris' - the song 'Belle'. I think it was produced in the 90s. I think that there was an English version, but you just can't beat the original in French. The main performers are now all stars in their own right.
If you type in youtube: Belle, the original cast (Garou, Daniel, Patric) - you should be able to see the song from the actual performance, but also from a concert in Paris. I hope you'll enjoy!
Hi Michael, tahnks for the tip re the musical I will definitely look into it as I love French music. Two weeks ago one of daughters performed in a musical for a local amateur theatre company. It was a showcase of performers no older than 25 with all songs from recent shows and was terrific.
I really enjoy Julio Iglesias so may have to give Enrique a chance. I'm also a fan of Yazoo, with one of my favourites being Winter Kills, and Visage's Fade to Grey is frequently played.
In terms of guatarists I enjoy Otmar Liebert and for a great Australian player you can;t go past Tommy Emmanuel. Unfortunately the name eescapes me at the moment but he has one piece and it sounds like didgeridoos are played but it's all guiatr.
Michael with help from Sue to navigate my way to your blog, my playlist is:
Walking on Sunshine
You’ve got a friend
Staying Alive
Bridge over troubled waters
You’ll never walk alone
Hi All,
I thought that I would take some of your numbers one choices and post the video so that you can jig along to in EnableMe.
First off the mark is Toni's selection - A Fine Frenzy - The Minnow & the Trout
Thanks Di :)
H i Brenda. Thanks for your suggestions. I assume you are an FC Liverpool supporter? When they played a friendly here in Melbourne a few years ago, a packed MCG sang the anthem - amazing!
Hi all, I'm working my way through your playlists and enjoying it - thank you! It made me think and reflect... Music, such a healing power. I imagine our brain is thankful for all the memories music brings out in all of us.
Talking about memories - I remembered one more - Sting: 'Fragile'. It'll always remind me of a dear human being and a fellow stroke survivor, who, unfortunately passed away last year. When I once complained to him about the effects of the stroke I had; he said: Michael, we need to educate other people how it is to live after stroke, so that they better understand, because, they can't possibly know what it's like...
Hi everyone,
I am enjoying all the different music everyone enjoys listening to, and will put the titles into YouTube to hear some of these songs that I don't know.
A Fine Frenzy is playing at the moment. A very gentle song, such a sweet voice the singer has.!
Good to see you here Brenda!
Sue :-)
Hi all,
I forgot to share with you another favourite song of mine. It is by a French artist called Christophe Mae. I came across it last year in March, when I was going through a bit of a rough patch - it is called 'Il est ou est bonheur' - where is happieness? I guess we've all asked ourselves that question at some point in time...
The song/video and the artist gives the answer at the end - it worked for me...
You can view it on youtube and also look up the translation if you are interested. Enjoy
Hey All,
Here is Michael's top choice:
Hi Michael,
I have listened to Christopher Mae's song - where is happiness. And I also looked up the lyrics in English .
Great lyrics - yes exactly "Where is the happiness?" We know it's there, we know it's there somewhere!
ah - it is there, it is there.
Have a happy day :-)
Sue
Hi Sue, I'm glad you liked the song. Music has no boundaries!
Hi Everyone,
music is such an important part of my therapy, the right song can lift your mood and change the atmosphere. As a teacher I made a playlist called "motivational music" and I would play different songs at the start of the lesson to get students ready to learn. I have playlists to start each day, another for exercise, and another for when I'm feeling low.
Some of my top music:
* Best Day of My Life (American Authors)
* Geronimo (Sheppard)
* Happy (Pharrell Williams)
* Hey Ya! (OutKast)
* Raise Your Glass (P!NK)
* Roar (Katy Perry)
* Titanium (David Guetta and Sia)
* Verge (Owl City and Aloe Blacc)
* Let's Spend the Night Together (The Rolling Stones)
* We Are the Champions (Queen)
* Don't Stop Me Now (Queen)
Really enjoying everyone's choices!!